Melvin Guillard admits his job is on the line at UFC on FOX 8

UFC lightweight Melvin Guillard has been showcasing his skills in the Octagon since 2005, picking up a dozen wins along the way including success against the likes of Jeremy Stephens, Gleison Tibau, Dennis Siver, and Evan Dunham. However, even “The Young Assassin” understands his showdown with Mac Danzig on Saturday night could spell the end of the road for his time on the organization’s roster.

Guillard has fallen in four of his last five efforts and hasn’t finished an opponent in two years. With a dreaded three-fight losing streak potentially looming, the 30-year old slugger is approaching UFC on FOX 8 with a genuine sense of urgency even though he ultimately believes he has what it takes to eventually be champion.

“Two years ago, I was on a five-fight win streak, and all of a sudden I hit a downward spiral and these losses. It happens,” said Guillard in an interview with UFC.com when asked to assess the current state of his career. “Right now I just want to pick myself up off the ground and keep moving forward. My main goal from the beginning was to stay in the UFC throughout my career, and right now that’s what I need to do. So this fight is a very important one for me to keep my job in the UFC.”

“My goal right now is to get some quality wins,” he continued. “I just turned 30 this year, and if the title comes, it will come. But like everybody else, you gotta earn it. I thought it was gonna come a lot easier when I was on a five-fight win streak, but it was a wake-up call to let me know that I’m in the toughest division in the UFC right now, so I have to work even harder to get to that goal of a title. But right now, I’m not thinking about a title; I’m thinking about staying in the UFC and keeping my job.”

The 30-12-2 Guillard owns nineteen victories via TKO though securing one against Danzig is anything but a guarantee given the Ultimate Fighter 6 winner’s reputation for toughness. Danzig has only been stopped with strikes a single time in his 32-fight career.

I know most fighters are afraid of the “three strikes” rule, but I honestly think Melvin might be safe. He’s an exciting fighter in Dana’s eyes and that’s usually all that matters. He said this after Melvins last loss….

“I always say it, the guys who go and lay it all out on the line, those are the guys we like to have,” White said in closing. “Believe me, there’s a lot of guys who love to do that push against the cage [expletive] all night that I’d love to cut on a win.”

As long as Melvin comes out guns blazing, I think he’ll get at least one more fight in the UFC. Danzig, I’m not so sure about.